With a history of precipitous labor, I would get a Dr note to work fully remote from 36 weeks onward.

My first labor was over 30 hours and required pitocin. My 2nd labor was less than 2 hours. I woke up having contractions at 12:15am and had a baby in my arms just before 2am. Two weeks before, my friend had a baby on her kitchen floor while writing her “out of office” message because she felt off and thought she’d probably go into labor the next day.

Anonymous wrote:Agree that you should just request to work remotely. Remember that no one in your office wants you to go into labor at the office either.

Op here. Great point!

Drive home to VA and head straight to the hospital. You will easily make it in time. Ask a friend to drive you if necessary.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you a FTM? Labor is usually 12 hours if not several days...

No, this is my second. When I had my first, I labored at home for 3 hours and got to the hospital at 9cm.

So you know your body and labor. How long from when you arrived at the hospital until you delivered? For my 1st, I went from 1st sign of labor to baby in my arms in 4 hours. If you have a history of precipitous labor your dr is going to guide you differently.

NP and history of precipitous labor. Ask me how I know! Funny now but I was so paranoid to anxious about the idea of delivering my babies at home/at work/on metro that I: called out sick (baby in arms 6 hrs later), spent night in hotel adjacent to hospital (false alarm but baby born next day + less than 10 minutes post epidural) and finally, hung out in parking garage, called on already at hospital-cervical check/active labor but was told I had about 12 hours of labor -return next day. Celebrated with huge lunch w / DH. Returned home. Labor intensified so back to hospital and baby born 3 hours later.

TL; dr: stick close to hospital and trust your instincts and body! Never argue with a pregnant woman! Three different doctors were wrong/miscalculated/misjudged 3x.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree that you should just request to work remotely. Remember that no one in your office wants you to go into labor at the office either.

This. My manager had a baby last fall and made us so nervous continuing to come into work (1.5 hours from her home!) up to 38 weeks. We were totally happy to cover while she worked from home and didn't want her in a situation where she was far from her OB and husband.

Yeah at a certain point nobody wants to see you painfully waddling in!

Anonymous wrote:Agree that you should just request to work remotely. Remember that no one in your office wants you to go into labor at the office either.

This. My manager had a baby last fall and made us so nervous continuing to come into work (1.5 hours from her home!) up to 38 weeks. We were totally happy to cover while she worked from home and didn't want her in a situation where she was far from her OB and husband.

Agree that you should just request to work remotely. Remember that no one in your office wants you to go into labor at the office either.

I ended up being put on bed rest so I worked remotely anyway, but I think it's reasonable not to commute in the final weeks. You could request a formal or informal accommodation; your doc would almost certainly write a letter.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with working remotely starting as soon as you can. Just so you don't have to worry. But, you could also just get an Uber home as soon as you started feeling contractions and you would likely have plenty of time to rinse off in the shower, grab your hospital bag, etc. Most first babies take a while.

Do you have a DH/partner? You could also get that person to grab the hospital bag and come get you, and drive you to the hospital.

Sorry, I just saw it's your second. My bad. But yeah, Uber home, DH meets you there, hospital together.

If your water has broken, it's not that easy to just hop in an Uber. You need a plan your you'll leak everywhere.

My first was under two hours from first contraction to delivery. Second was 45 minutes - we barely made it to the hospital. Everyone delivers differently and with a history of fast labor definitely work from home!

Anonymous wrote:I agree with working remotely starting as soon as you can. Just so you don't have to worry. But, you could also just get an Uber home as soon as you started feeling contractions and you would likely have plenty of time to rinse off in the shower, grab your hospital bag, etc. Most first babies take a while.

Do you have a DH/partner? You could also get that person to grab the hospital bag and come get you, and drive you to the hospital.

Sorry, I just saw it's your second. My bad. But yeah, Uber home, DH meets you there, hospital together.

I agree with working remotely starting as soon as you can. Just so you don't have to worry. But, you could also just get an Uber home as soon as you started feeling contractions and you would likely have plenty of time to rinse off in the shower, grab your hospital bag, etc. Most first babies take a while.

Do you have a DH/partner? You could also get that person to grab the hospital bag and come get you, and drive you to the hospital.

I'm the OP. Thanks for the feedback! Think I'll talk to work and try to work remotely. If they're willing, sounds like it's not the worth the hassle or stress coming in those last weeks

In your shoes, I would stop metroing and drive so you have maximum flexibility. I would ask about remote work. If you can go totally remote, great. If not, maybe just liberal flexibility - if you wake up feeling a bit off or you had some contractions over night but not labor yet, you can work from home that day. I still think you will have time to get back to your hospital in VA, but being closer to home is nice if you can do it. That said, if you feel like it is an emergency, just go to Sibley.

Anonymous wrote:Go remote as soon as you can! For this and many other reasons.

If you can't go remote, identify a hospital in your insurance network near work. A friend had her water break at work and barely made it to the hospital nearest work. It happens.